Chapter 21: The Increasingly Eccentric Sailing Ships
Following the flagship Paraiso, the second and third ships have rolled out.
“Since there were no structural issues with the Paraiso during its voyage, the designs are nearly identical. The third ship is equipped with multi-barrel 20mm machine guns instead of the 150mm smoothbore cannon. From what I’ve observed on-site, this might prove to be a more useful armament,” Ringo reported.
“Wow… how majestic!”
She couldn’t hide her excitement at the sight of the two ships floating side by side, leaning over the railing. In a flurry, the Communicator Android controlled by Ringo caught her waist.
“Ma’am, it’s dangerous,” it cautioned.
“I’m fine!” she replied cheerfully.
She thought to herself that Ringo was being overly protective. Below them was a well-maintained dock, about 2 meters high. Even if she fell, it would be into the sea, and should she faint, help would arrive quickly. She wished they would let her enjoy the moment a little more freely.
Unbeknownst to her, she was being far too reckless.
“For now, it seems we can start trading in earnest,” Ringo continued.
“Yes, Ma’am. If we can secure a steady supply of iron products, we will achieve considerable stability. We will also be able to manufacture larger ships.”
At the mention of larger ships, she turned her gaze toward the sea. There, a large sailing ship was under construction, with work still ongoing.
“In the end, we ran short on steel and had to use duralumin meant for aircraft,” she recalled.
“Yes, Ma’am. The main framework is designed with either duralumin or steel, while the basic structural material is cellulose. However, we are still using duralumin in areas that require strength. Ultimately, once we secure the necessary iron, we plan to dismantle it and recover the duralumin,” Ringo explained.
“I’d prefer to use duralumin for aircraft if possible,” she mused.
“Yes, Ma’am. If we can operate large flying boats, we can significantly increase our deployment speed.”
Currently, the only runway available at the Tree Fortress is a short-distance runway that runs through the fortress. Due to the catapult launch system, it can only accommodate aircraft designed for that purpose, and the runway itself is too small for larger aircraft. In contrast, flying boats that can take off and land on water could be made larger. While a dock for cargo transport would be necessary, it is more practical than constructing a runway. However, even building that structure poses resource challenges.
“Well, let’s focus on securing a stable supply of iron first…”
Once they can trade in tons, they could construct steel structures. If they could set up a large-scale industrial 3D printer for shipbuilding, the construction speed would dramatically increase.
“I am prioritizing iron acquisition and gathering information, so I believe I will have some reports soon,” Ringo assured.
“I’m not worried about that, so it’s all good,” she replied confidently.
As a commander, she made it a point to regularly check the Action Log to see what Ringo was up to. Recently, it seemed Ringo had been scanning for exposed iron oxide on the ground. If they could find a location along the coast suitable for open-pit mining, they could dispatch a fleet for mining instead of trading.
“Also, we will soon be bringing the Paraiso back. We were able to negotiate favorable trading terms and acquired various spices and food items,” Ringo added.
“Oh, really? That sounds exciting!” she exclaimed.
After the Paraiso incident, a large-scale sweep operation had reportedly taken place in that port town. They had completely wiped out the merchant group that had meddled with the Paraiso. According to Ringo, while they could have haggled, they chose to accept the goodwill offered since it was their first transaction. They were said to have been quite grateful.
However, as a show of force, they had blown up the buildings of the “enemy” merchant group with the 150mm smoothbore cannon. Ringo had calculated the trajectory and fired the explosive shells with precision, destroying only the intended target. Since they had given prior warning, there were no casualties other than the enemy guild master.
Watching that unfold, she thought it might have been excessive, but Ringo’s proud demeanor quickly made her forget her concerns.
The guild master of the port town of Terek, likely in a position similar to that of a lord, promised to have the requested amount of iron ingots ready by the next trade. It seemed that gunboat diplomacy was indeed the most effective approach. Next time, they would surely be even more surprised, especially with three ships in their fleet.
“If we can deploy larger ships, the transport capacity will triple compared to the combined total of these three vessels.”
The large transport ships would prioritize cargo capacity and stability, featuring a shallow and wide hull. Instead of paddle wheels, they would be equipped with screw propellers. While wind power would be the primary means of propulsion for the time being, they planned to convert to hydrogen gas turbines once the materials were available. The hydrogen fuel would be generated by electrolyzing seawater using solar panels.
“We’ll form a trading fleet… and eventually, I want to build a battleship,” she declared.
“A battleship? What size are you thinking?” Ringo inquired.
“Hmm… I’m not sure, but around 300 meters?” she replied casually.
Ringo paused for a moment, contemplating her vague answer.
“Understood. Let’s proceed with the Tree’s development so we can construct a battleship,” Ringo confirmed.
“Really? That sounds exciting!” she said, her enthusiasm growing.
Incorporating a massive battleship into their fleet had now become their goal.
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
The Paraiso returned safely. While it wasn’t fully loaded, it carried a significant amount of iron products, preserved food, spices, various crafts, and precious metals.
“We only have about a ton of iron, so it’s not even enough for one ship,” Ringo reported.
“Better than just losing it, though. We should be able to increase our haul next time, right?” she asked.
“Yes, I’ve made the request. This time we received unbleached thread and cloth, but next time, let’s add dyed items to the list. I also managed to acquire some patterns, so I’d like to produce samples of clothing as well,” Ringo replied.
Perhaps due to the constant warfare, the region seemed culturally underdeveloped. She had heard that there was a demand for fabric products in the royal capital.
Is this what cultural invasion looks like? she pondered idly while glancing over the list of clothing and crafts. Lacking any design sense, she had no critiques to offer.
“Also, it seems that weapons have a relatively high exchange rate. We obtained some of their weapons, so we will adjust the quality of what we offer based on their craftsmanship. I’ve informed them that what we provided was of the highest quality, so it should be fine if the mass-produced items are of slightly lesser quality,” Ringo explained.
“That sounds reasonable. Just keep it appropriate,” she replied.
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Currently, she was seated at a table set up on the observation deck, being served by Ringo. Several newly rolled-out Communicator Androids were attending to her. It was a scene she had once feared would lead her down the path of becoming a useless person, but fortunately, she remained blissfully unaware of this fact.
As she watched the Communicator Androids bustling about to unload cargo, she sipped on the carbonated water Ringo had prepared for her through a straw.
“…Delicious!”
“I refined the sugar we acquired and made soda,” Ringo informed her.
“…This tastes like… civilization…” she murmured.
While recommending her candied fruits, Ringo continued to gather information through the bots they had infiltrated, striving to enhance their meals further.
From the fortified Northern Islands, an exploratory fleet set sail.
Their destination: the uncharted Southern Continent.
Though they were wooden sailing ships, their construction materials were ideal for long-distance voyages. Equipped with the latest magical paddle wheels for auxiliary power, they primarily relied on sail. Three large ships, built with the pinnacle of technology, set out alongside two battleships and four cruisers, forming a grand fleet of nine vessels that slowly glided into the open sea.
Their objective was to gather intelligence on the hegemonic nation of the Southern Continent, as relayed by the castaways they had encountered. If possible, they aimed to explore peaceful exchanges. Based on the investigation of the seized large ships, it was determined that their technological level was not too far removed from their own. The only concern was the issue of range, which prevented them from deploying their main battleships.